Synergistic photocatalysis: Metal oxide composites for enhanced wastewater treatment

Abstract

The growing concern over water pollution has sparked a demand for practical and durable wastewater treatment systems. This study investigates composite materials, specifically metal oxides, and fabrics, for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in wastewater. Metal oxides, including zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂), naturally show remarkable photocatalytic properties. The incorporation of these metal oxides within fabric matrices produces a synergistic effect that enhances the photocatalyst’s energy level, boosting pollution removal. This composite improves the catalyst’s properties, leading to increased photocatalytic performance and easy separation after treatment. This article focuses on the characteristics and photocatalytic performance of these composites. Metal oxide-fabric composites show promising catalysts with a high potential for solving water pollution issues. Therefore, further research is needed before their various environmental uses can be fully used.